Chapter 3
Vee
The sky was still dark as I made my way to my frost-covered car.
While the cooler temperatures woke me, the hour and a half of sleep I managed on the plane had me dragging.
Thankfully, I turned on my phone to a message from Don Tilson, saying he’d told the team to take today off, postponing the week by a day, and asked if I minded postponing our meeting until tomorrow morning.
If he hadn’t asked, I would be headed to Maker’s Mark instead of my condo.
To my surprise, Fin was lying on the sofa, his eyes closed and his hair tousled. It was as I wheeled my luggage into the kitchen that his tired blue eyes opened.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.”
Fin grimaced as he sat forward, moving his legs to the floor. As the blanket fell, I saw his toned bare chest, the sling holding his left arm, and a wrap covering it.
I dropped my leather bag and hurried toward him. “What’s the diagnosis?”
He leaned closer and brushed my lips with his. “I thought you would have gotten the report.”
My pulse sped faster in my ears. “I slept on the plane and haven’t checked emails. I wanted to get home.”
“It’s almost time to get up. Are you meeting with Tilson?”
“No.” I shook my head. “He sent a text saying he is postponing the week by a day and asked if I’d be okay with meeting Tuesday.”
“Dislocated,” Fin said. “Like I told you in the text message, I had immediate relief once they popped it back into the socket.” He looked down at his shoulder. “They have me icing it on and off.”
Cupping his scruffy cheek, I tilted my head. “I love you. You should be in bed asleep.”
“I was waiting for you.”
“Did they give you any medication? What are they saying about long term?”
“Nothing strong, just over the counter. I’m supposed to meet with Lacy Reynolds at Maker’s Mark this afternoon.”
I dropped my palm and reached for Fin’s warm right hand. “On the way home, I was thinking about you.”
His lips twitched. “Me or my cock?”
A giggle escaped my lips as I shook my head.
“You. Fin, you secured us the first seed. If you’re on the IR, you won’t be able to play postseason, but that doesn’t mean you’re not part of the team.
We’re here in postseason because of you.
” I pressed my lips together in a smile.
“Thank you for getting the Coopers here.”
“I’m not going on the IR. No fucking way.
” He stood, the blanket falling to the floor, revealing his muscular legs and nylon basketball shorts.
He spun toward me. “I can throw. The trainer who set my shoulder, fixed me up with this contraption, and put it in the sling told me that normal activity can be resumed in two to three weeks.”
Standing, I met him chest to chest. “Professional quarterback is not normal activity.”
“It is for me. Hell, I’ve been doing it for thirteen years.”
“I don’t want to risk your long-term health.”
He reached for my shoulder with his good hand. “Vee, don’t think of me as me. Think of me as a quarterback on your team. Dennison is fantastic. You talked about depth. With Simpson out and Jackson as third, you—the Coopers—need me.”
“I need you, Fin. I need you to be healthy.”
“You want a Super Bowl win.” Before I could answer, he went on. “I do too. I’ve never felt this sure about a team, a team I am a part of. Fuck, thirteen years and I want a damn ring.”
“I don’t have any say in the injury reserve list. I wanted you to know that if you end up on there, you have already done your part.”
He ran his hand through his messy dark hair. “I want you to know I’ll walk over hot coals to help the Coopers win it all. I don’t need my left arm. I proved that last night.”
Inhaling and exhaling, I met his stare. The intensity of what I saw made my heart squeeze. “You scared me, Griffin Graham” —my words were choked by memories and sleep deprivation— “when you didn’t get up.” I gasped for breath. “It was awful.”
Fin wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer. Looking up into his eyes, I splayed my fingers over his warm skin. Beneath my touch his heart beat a steady rhythm. “When you asked Drew to go back on the field, were you being the Coopers’ quarterback or my boyfriend?”
“I can be both.”
“You can. I worried you put yourself out there because you didn’t want me disappointed. All Jackson had to do was not—”
“I ran through the scenarios,” he interrupted. “Get a pass tipped, an interception, or get sacked.” His volume rose. “We were up by one point. If the Texans had gotten the ball back with a minute to go, Anthony would have scored.”
“Do you really have so little faith in Josh Jackson?”
“No, Vee. I have that much faith in me.”
A lump formed in my throat as I nodded. “I do too.”
Fin kissed my hair. “What are your plans?”
“After I read Don’s text message, I moved our executive meeting to tomorrow. I need to go into Maker’s Mark.” I sighed. “But I’d like to get a little more sleep first.”
His smile quirked. “Then follow me. I couldn’t get comfortable on the plane. I need to be there by one for Lacy. Let’s try to sleep.”
“Did they put you on any pain med?”
“Tylenol. It’s sore, not hurting.”
Our fingers intertwined as we walked down the hallway toward the bedroom.
Fin stopped walking at the doorway and looked my direction. “Are you sure about what you said in your text message?”
Pressing my lips together, I nodded. “I want you to move in.”
“It’s not freaking you out? You’re not spiraling?”
“I’m not. I told Dad that Preston wanted us to move in together, but I didn’t think I was ready.
He said then don’t. He also said when I find the right person to commit to, I will.
” I blinked away the sting of tears. “I don’t think it was that I hadn’t found the right person. It was that I lost the right person.”
Fin squeezed my hand. “Me too.” His lips curled. “Now we’re found. I love you, Vee.”
After setting an alarm for eleven thirty, I stripped out of my blouse, skirt, and boots. After losing my bra to the floor, I climbed under the blankets and scooted close to Fin. “Will I hurt your shoulder if I lie next to you?”
With him to my left, I was next to his right arm.
“I don’t want you any other place.”
With a cyclone of thoughts rushing through my brain, I didn’t expect to fall asleep. Nevertheless, the sound of my alarm pulled me from a deep slumber. Daylight shone beyond the open plantation blinds. Easing out of bed, I peered between the slats.
“I can’t believe you were sleeping in only those panties, and I didn’t try to take them off your sexy body.”
Turning, I faced Fin. “I think we were both exhausted. It’s snowing.”
“Let me drive you to Maker’s Mark. My truck is better than your car in snow.”
He grimaced as he moved to the edge of the bed.
“I don’t know for sure how late I’ll be.”
“My schedule is clear.” He smiled a sexy grin. “If only I could find someone to help me shower.”
“So, you’re hurt when you need a shower partner, not when you’re being a quarterback?”
“That sounds right.”